7 DIY Design Ideas to Make Your Fire Pit More Interesting for Summer
Hanging out with friends and family around the fire pit is one of the best ways to spend a summer night. It’s the perfect setting for making memories and sharing laughs! While a simple fire pit and some chairs will suffice, it’s nice to put some effort into your design to make it feel more homey, inviting, and stylish. An empty landscape isn’t much fun to look at, but there are plenty of plants and backyard accessories to liven up the place! Here are some DIY design ideas to make your fire pit even more interesting for a fun-filled summer you’ll never forget!
Flank Your Fire Pit Benches with DIY Paver Planters
Plain wood benches are a simple outdoor seating setup for the fire pit, but they can look a little underwhelming on their own. Jazz it up a bit by arranging them in a square and connecting them at the corners with DIY planters. Stack up some paver stones or bricks to create your square planter boxes, then fill them with pretty plants. An added bonus: the brick edge will be big enough to function as a side table for drinks!
Make a S’More Station
S’mores are an essential part of entertaining around the fire pit! Set up an outdoor bar cart to function as your s’more station. Get some large, glass-clamped Mason jars to fill with all the necessary s’more fixings: graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate squares, and any other fun add-ons. Grab a tall canister—the kind you keep fire pokers in—and use that to store your sticks for roasting. For a little extra pizazz, wind some twinkle lights around your s’more station—the added illumination will make it easier to access at night!
Install Trellises and Obelisks for Creeping Vines
Trellises and obelisks are tall structures meant for vining flowers and plants to climb. When covered in lush, mature vines, they create pillars or walls of gorgeous greenery. If you strategically arrange them in your yard, you can create a sense of privacy around your fire pit, almost like a separate outdoor room.
Be sure to position your trellises or obelisks far enough away from your fire pit that they don’t risk catching fire! We also have metal privacy screens available, which are great for establishing a separation between your fire pit and the rest of your yard.
Build a Removable Top to Turn Your Fire Pit into a Coffee Table
When you’re not using your fire pit, you can still use that seating area as a functional space. Find an old, heavy, round wooden table top to lay on top of the fire pit to convert into a table for enjoying charcuterie board snacks and board games. Paint it a fun colour to liven up your outdoor space, or get crafty and apply pretty patterned wallpaper. Use mod podge to give it a waterproof seal, and you’re good to go!
Set Up a Projector Screen for Movie Nights
A plain white sheet makes a perfect projector screen for watching movies! Take two large buckets, then take two tall, wooden stakes and put one in each bucket. Get someone to hold them upright as you pour in some quick-dry concrete. Once it’s all dry, you can nail the white sheet onto the stakes. You’ll need to invest in a projector system, but there are plenty of budget-friendly options you can purchase online. Now, all you need to do is roast some Jiffy Pop over the fire pit, and you’re all ready for movie night!
Construct a Curved Pergola
It isn’t safe to have a roof over your fire pit, but a curved pergola that wraps around your fire pit will create the illusion of an outdoor room without creating a fire hazard. Pergolas are so beautiful—especially when you train creeping vines to climb around them, just like they would on a trellis or obelisk. If your pergola is strong and stable enough, we’ve seen folks suspend swings for a fun seating alternative—both the kids and the adults will love them.
Add Some Garden Art
Outdoor, weatherproof art is an instant way to bring style and creativity to your fire pit area. Sculptures, ornamental bird baths, fountains, and pretty painted planters add so much visual interest and personality. Opt for metal and stone garden art over wooden styles—they’re safer to keep near the fire!
Looking for more ways to make your DIY fire pit design more functional and fun? Visit Mother Nature to see our planters, garden art, outdoor entertaining supplies, and everything else you need to complete your space. Your backyard will be the go-to party spot all summer long!